Working together with people who experience disadvantage to understand their lived experiences helps us amplify their voices to drive change.

Through influencing policy, building effective services, strong partnerships and community, BSL is able to affect change in the world around us for social good. Whether we’re a BSL staff member, a volunteer, donating goods to a BSL op shop or sharing information with friends and family, every little action can support a shift towards inclusive thinking and drive the desire for a fair society where everyone can take part on equal footing.

Our Stepping Stones to Small Business program is one example of the way participation can increase skills and affect community change at the same time. Participants are given training and work with a mentor to develop their own business. But the impact of this program goes beyond empowering participants in their business start-ups. It delivers substantial economic and social dividends, and benefits families, the local economy and the community at large. Through the program, women not only develop the confidence to set individualised goals and explore multiple pathways to gain financial wellbeing, but they also learn how to manage money, become advocates and become role models for their family and broader community.

Since its establishment in 2011, Stepping Stones to Small Business has worked with women from across 26 local Council areas and has also expanded operations to regional areas to support 1,859 participants from over 72 different countries. The program has also trained and supported over 190 volunteer mentors.

The story of STEM Catalyst

Not many people can say they’ve launched a business during a global pandemic, but Thasleem, Faiza and Arjumand have.

Originally based around face-to-face learning, their business, STEM Catalyst, has been redesigned as a citizen-science (public participation and collaboration in scientific research) learning experience suited to the online environment.

These three educated, motivated women, who happen to be migrants and mothers, are determined to create early connection and foster lasting curiosity around STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). They also hope to correct the gender imbalance in STEM by showing families and young girls that the STEM space is for everyone.

The idea for STEM Catalyst came about after Arjumand volunteered to start a program at the school Thasleem, Faiza and Arjumand’s children attend. “We used recess and lunchtime – when children are happy and playful – to engage the children with science-based activities,” says Arjumand.

When time came to develop the business side of STEM Catalyst, Thasleem, Faiza and Arjumand chose Stepping Stones to Small Business as the community program that would best support their needs. “The three of us are STEM professionals, but it’s hard to get back to the workforce. We didn’t want our skills to go to waste so we wanted to create our own opportunities,” says Faiza.

They used training and mentorship to strengthen their marketing skills and improve STEM Catalyst’s reach.

To pivot to online learning, the team undertook intensive research to find the best way for parents and children to actively engage. STEM Catalyst now has a virtual platform where more than 100 families are connected to each other and connected to STEM. “We hope to inspire the future innovators of Australia,” says Thasleem.

“I believe the pandemic has not separated us but brought us together through STEM Catalyst,” says Arjumand.